Established 2004

Ruddlesden geotechnical

Ruddlesden geotechnical provides ground investigation, geotechnical consultancy and contamination assessment services.

Based in Exeter, but covering the whole of the UK, albeit primarily concentrated in the South West, Ruddlesden geotechnical was formed in 2004.

Ruddlesden geotechnical works on behalf of a wide client base, including local, regional and national housing developers, housing associations, commercial developers, building contractors, structural and civil engineers, architects, building consultants, quantity surveyors, local authorities and private individuals.

Development projects range from single dwellings and extensions to large housing estates, multi-storey flats, offices, industrial units, roads, slopes, schools, hospitals and basements.

The services and projects listed on this web-site provide an indication of those undertaken by Ruddlesden geotechnical, but others are carried out. If your requirement is not readily identifiable on this web-site, please contact us as we may still be able to help you.

  • AGS
  • Constructionline
  • CSCS
  • SMAS
  • ECFC trust
  • Latest news

    27 Aug 2026

    LiDAR, UAV and GIS used for Slope Stability Assessment

    Geoff Davis has recently been working on another coastal caravan site with slope stability problems.On this site, Lewis Brown Chartered Land Surveyors used remote sensing (LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging)) from a UAV (unmanned aerial vehicle) to help understand the locations and magnitude of ground movements.Ruddlesden geotechnical then used GIS (Geographic Information System)  to highlight areas of concern, to quantify the degree of movement, which might have otherwise been missed.These technologies have been great in helping us understand the landslide processes at this site and, equally importantly, convey to others what is happening. However, they are of little use without a detailed understanding of the geological and geomorphological processes, which inform the all-important ground model, i.e. they should be seen as a useful tool to help us understand and communicate landslide processes, rather than a replacement for the understanding of them.

    LiDAR, UAV and GIS used for Slope Stability Assessment
    LiDAR, UAV and GIS used for Slope Stability Assessment
  • Recent projects

    BRE 470 Platform Design, Paignton

    A significant thickness of made ground and underlying soft clay soils was encountered during a geotechnical investigation, necessitating the use of piled foundations for a proposed residential development site in Paignton. To facilitate the piling works, a working platform was required. Ruddlesden geotechnical were commissioned to undertake design calculations to provide the thickness of the working platform required. Working platform thicknesses with and without geogrid reinforcement were calculated in accordance with BRE 470: Working Platforms for Tracked Plant. Ruddlesden geotechnical utilised the information obtained during the previous geotechnical investigation, avoiding the need for any further intrusive investigation.

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  • Recent projects

    Temporary Works Excavation Stability Assessment, North Devon

    It was proposed to construct a retaining wall as part of the proposed redevelopment of a residential site in north Devon. Ruddlesden were commissioned to provide a method statement detailing precautions to be taken during excavations, with details of the support to be provided during temporary works and construction of the retaining wall. Whilst it was considered that one of the excavations could be safely graded back to a safe angle of repose to facilitate the construction of the retaining wall, where this was not possible, the soils and rock exposed in the excavation were retained by a proprietary geo-grid/ mesh pinned into the slope, to mitigate the risk of rock fall.

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